Fondly described as “Talladega Nights meets The Catcher in the Rye,” Racing Dreams is a dramatic, funny and sometimes heartbreaking look at the world of NASCAR culture as lived by three young aspirants to race-car glory and their families. The film follows Annabeth Barnes, 11, Josh Hobson, 12, and Brandon Warren, 13, as they compete in the World Karting Association’s Pavement Series, a yearlong national championship of five races around the United States.

As the tour unfolds, the three young racers step from the sheltered world of childhood into adolescence — discovering romance for the first time, questioning their relationships with their parents and glimpsing the serious obstacles that will threaten their ability to achieve their dreams. Racing Dreams is a story about hopes, values, choices and how opportunities are created and thwarted, making it an excellent springboard for conversations in the community.